Analysis

The women shaking up world’s second-biggest election

The EU’s 373 million voters are about to decide whether the Continent is set for a rightward turn. Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and France’s Marine Le Pen are hoping this week’s result ramps up their momentum.

Hans van LeeuwenEurope correspondent

Updated Jun 5, 2024 – 1.13pm, first published at 7.51am

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London | The world’s second-largest election this year, after India, kicks off on Thursday. Up to 373 million voters will spend four days filing into polling booths to decide the political make-up of the European Parliament for the rest of this decade.

Riding a surge in support, leaders of the muscular right and far-right – led by Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and France’s Marine Le Pen – are hoping the elections will ramp up their burgeoning, Europe-wide momentum.

Hans van Leeuwen covers British and European politics, economics and business from London. He has worked as a reporter, editor and policy adviser in Sydney, Canberra, Hanoi and London.